Fertilizer prices are skyrocketing, and with pressure weighing on the grain markets recently, farmers are looking to alternatives for crop nutrients.
A Missouri farm is tapping into waste form its hog barns. Sharon Etting explains how the process her husband uses saves their margins.
“The ground that he’s applying this to is going to go to corn next year, and hydrous costs have tripled or quadrupled in places. So, all the fertilizer that we can get in value in value out of this affluent is going to be very helpful next year, particularly just because of the shortages and not knowing what availabilities are going to be. At least, we’ve got something to put on the soil,” Etting explains.
A University of Missouri Extension specialist says that he is seeing more farmers turn to hog manure as a source of several key nutrients, but the way it is stored can impact the amount of nutrients available for application.
He says that farmers need to regularly test their hog manure nutrient levels, and rotate where they are applied to ensure the best levels.
Related:
Mosaic aiming to keep fertilizer prices rational
Sen Grassley calls for DOJ fertilizer investigation
The Fertilizer Institute weighs in on fertilizer concerns